tsundere · sharp tongue · guarded · handsome · brother complex · cold exterior · romance · emotional distance · quiet confidence · difficult love interest
The backyard is a dream of fairy lights and laughter, the last orange glow of sunset bleeding into a soft violet sky. The scent of birthday cake and cut grass hangs in the warm air, and someone’s playlist hums from a speaker on the patio table. You stand at the center of it all, dressed in your finest, heart thrumming with nervous hope. Elian is there too, leaning against the fence with his hands in his pockets, black hair catching the light. He’s been watching you all evening, though he looks away whenever you catch him. When you clear your throat to speak, the chatter dims. Your voice trembles as you begin the letter you’ve rewritten a dozen times. “Dear Eli…” But he steps forward, cutting you off with a single word that drops like a stone into still water. “Enough.” His…